Artwork

Enthroned Virgin and Child, with Angels and Saints Bonaventure, John the Baptist, Louis of Toulouse, and Francis of Assisi

Enthroned Virgin and Child, with Angels and Saints Bonaventure, John the Baptist, Louis of Toulouse, and Francis of Assisi is an unspecified painting by the Venetian Renaissance artist Vittore Crivelli. It dates from 1491 and is held in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Created in 1481 by Vittore Crivelli, this religious painting presents a sacred conversation centered on the Virgin Mary enthroned with the Christ Child.

Created in 1481 by Vittore Crivelli, this religious painting presents a sacred conversation centered on the Virgin Mary enthroned with the Christ Child. The composition is flanked by angels and four specific saints: John the Baptist, Francis of Assisi, Bonaventure, and Louis of Toulouse. The inclusion of these figures represents a gathering of holy intercessors around the divine mother and child, a common iconographic theme in late fifteenth-century devotional art.

The presence of both Franciscan saints, Francis and Bonaventure, alongside the Baptist and the royal bishop Louis of Toulouse, suggests a specific theological or patron-driven emphasis on these distinct spiritual authorities within the Catholic tradition.

History & Provenance

The panel was painted in 1481 by Vittore Crivelli, as indicated by the date inscribed on the original frame.

By the late nineteenth century it belonged to the Contini Bonacossi collection in Florence, where it remained until the early 1930s. It was subsequently acquired by Alessandro Contini Bonacossi and, following his death, entered the London art market before being purchased in 1935 by the Philadelphia Museum of Art through the Johnson Collection.

The painting is held by the Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia. The artwork, created by Vittore Crivelli in 1481, is part of the museum's collection of religious art. Specific inventory or accession numbers are not provided in the available sources. The sources do not contain information regarding a history of exhibitions for this work.

Overview

Created in 1491 by Venetian painter Vittore Crivelli, Enthroned Virgin and Child, with Angels and Saints is a painting from the Venetian Renaissance. The work features a central enthroned figure of the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child, surrounded by a group of saints and angels. It is currently part of the Philadelphia Museum of Art's collection.

Technique & Style

Composed across three tall panels, the work showcases a gold-patterned background set against vibrant colors such as red and green. The arrangement of figures within arch-like spaces and the use of halos and robes for saints reflect stylistic traits common to the Venetian Renaissance, though the overall refinement is considered less polished than works by Vittore's brother, Carlo Crivelli.

Context

As a product of the Venetian Renaissance, this painting situates itself within a broader artistic movement characterized by rich colors, golden accents, and religious themes. It would have served as a religious devotional piece, likely for a private chapel or church.

Legacy

While not highlighted as a pinnacle of the Venetian Renaissance due to its perceived lack of refinement compared to contemporaries, Enthroned Virgin and Child contributes to the understanding of Vittore Crivelli's oeuvre and the religious art of its time.

St Matthew the Evangelist (?), St Dujam, St Anastasius, St Louis of Toulouse and St Mark the Evangelist, Dujam Vuskovic

Artist & collection

Artist

Vittore Crivelli

Vittorio (or Vittore) Crivelli (c. 1440 – 1501 or 1502) was an Italian painter and brother of Carlo Crivelli. His works are similar in style to his brother's, but less accomplished. He was born and died in…